PROCESS FOR EXTRACTION OF NICKEL, COBALT, AND OTHER BASE METALS FROM LATERITE ORES BY USING HEAP LEACHING AND PRODUCT CONTAINING NICKEL, COBALT, AND OTHER METALS FROM LATERITE ORES

摘要

The present invention embodies a process for extraction of nickel, cobalt, and other metals from laterite ores by heap leaching, and of the product obtained as well, characterized by the fact that it is comprised of crushing (I), agglomeration (II), stacking (III), and heap leaching (IV) stages, with this last stage being a continuous, countercurrent, heap leaching system with two or more stages, comprised of two phases, one of which is composed of the ore (solute), and the other is composed of the leaching solution, or solvent, which are supplied at opposite ends of the series of stages and flow in opposite directions. Upon cessation of leaching in the last stage, its solute is removed and a new stage is introduced at the first position, formed by new ore (solute) to be leached by the solvent solution, which is introduced from the last stage, percolating or flowing through all the previous stages until it reaches the first stage, being separated if loaded with target metals (PLS).